Martin’s Dream:

Martin’s Dream is a poem and video written and produced by Duane Parham. It urges Americans to keep the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alive! Many do so…increasing voter rights, civil rights, criminal justice laws and expressing love for humanity. However, millions of Americans wake each day with anger, bitterness, injustice and inhumane thoughts and actions. Any retrogression is an act of failure. Each step taken, no matter how small, must move us toward “a more perfect union.”

Producer Duane Parham’s goal is to make Martin’s Dream into a community project in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the “I Have a Dream Speech.” He needs financial assistance to bring this dream to fruition. Please lend a hand.

We Create Smiles with Music

Make the Dream a Reality

The Year 2023 reveals waking up to cultural biases, racial discrimination, criminal injustice, voter intimidation and re-writing American history. Sometimes, it seems we are still asleep. . .

Educational Arts Society – 501 c 3

Join us as we continue the dream with a video celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the “I Have a Dream Speech.”

View the Trailer of Martin’s Dream

In commemoration of the “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered by Civil Rights Leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, this CD entitled “Martin’s Dream” has been recorded and an accompanying video that also features borrowed pictures of famous role models. It will be sixty (60) years on August 2023, since that historic March on Washington Speech was made. However, Detroiters know the foundation of that speech was made on June 1963 with the Walk to Freedom in Detroit. That knowledge makes this commemoration special to Michiganders!

Duane Parham was licensed by the airs of the estate of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to add to his recordings, poem, and song, 37 seconds of the “I Have a Dream” speech (November 28, 1994). The new, community video will incorporate all of these items, and use community leaders, church members and contributors to further the cause of Dr. King.

Thank you in advance for your consideration in making “Martin’s Dream” the best musical dedication Detroiters can achieve in the Sixty Year Commemoration.

In the spirit of love and success,

Educational Arts Society Walter Duane Parham, CEO

What People Are Saying About Duane Parham

Hello Duane Parham!

As soon as I saw that you signed up for my email list… I got a little excited. I stood up from my desk, climbed on top of my chair and yelled out, “THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER …Duane Parham JUST JOINED MY LIST !!!” I gotta’ admit …the other people in the office were NOT as excited as I was. I didn’t care though.

In all seriousness… we wanted to take a second to say hello and welcome you to the family. On behalf of the entire ArtistPR team, we want you to know that we’re truly excited and grateful that you decided to join. . .

We know much of that is marketing hype, but you can get excited about Parham’s new CD Single “My Turn.

Educational Arts Society: Creating a Smile with Music

Music Education Scores

Educational Arts Society “creates a smile” by placing a FREE instrument in the hands of a child. You can too.

Martin’s Dream Video

In commemoration of the “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered by Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a CD entitled “Martin’s Dream” has been recorded and an accompanying “Martin’s Dream” Video is in the process of being made.  It will be sixty (60) years on August 2023, since that historic March on Washington Speech was made.  However, Detroiters know the foundation of that speech was made on June 1963 with the Walk to Freedom in Detroit. That knowledge makes this commemoration special to Michiganders!

Martin’s Dream Video

CEO Walter Duane Parham was licensed by the King Estate to release a Martin’s Dream CD years ago which consists of a poem and song!  The 60th Anniversary of Reverend Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech” inspired him to re-release it.  The most significant thing about the license is that it allows him to use thirty-seven seconds of the “I Have a Dream,” speech in the song as well as the poem.  Several musicians, ministers and videographers are involved in recording the video and song. Therefore, funds are needed to complete the project. Here are a few of the participants:

Reverend Dr. JoAnn WATSON, Ms. Leanne Hunn, a member of Reverend Watson’s church Westside Unity, Vocalist Kelly Miller, Vocalist Tammy Trela Davis. Clergy: Reverend Dr. Kenneth James Flowers of the Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Bishop Horace Sheffield of New Destiny Christian Fellowship, Reverend Dr. Carlyle F. Stewart of Empowerment Church, Legendary Actor Mr. Lou Beatty Jr. and yours truly, author and producer Walter Duane Parham.

American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968) at a press conference in London, September 1964.(Photo by Reg Lancaster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Dr. King’s Legacy Serves All

The life and legacy of Dr. King serves all of us. We need “all of us” to share in continuing it with the upcoming project. Many of the freedoms we share today derived from the blood, sweat, tears and death of this great man. Please help us continue to keep the dream alive by making a donation. No donation too large or too small.

If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact us @admin@easzmusic.org.

Dr. King’s Dream

Song and Video Goal – 20,000

Sponsors: Educational Arts Society & Saxville Avenue

Thank you for your support in this project.

Martin’s Dream Song & Video Recording

Educational Arts Society and Saxville Avenue are seeking funds to record “Martin’s Dream,” a project in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Donations begin with $10 but use the arrow pointing up to give more, and down arrow to give less. Place the amount you wish to give in the box instead of $10.

$10.00

We appreciate you! If you prefer to use the GoFundMe Page that has been set up, please click here. All donations are tax deductible, and a 2023 tax letter will be submitted to each donor.

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Creating a Smile Not Tears

Creating Smiles . . . Not Tears

Educational Arts Society Places an Instrument in the Hands of a Child

Join us in replacing five (5) saxophones for these talented students at Duke Ellington Middle School in Detroit. The ones they are holding are so old it is difficult for them to form tones. They have waited a whole year. Time is running out! Please help!

Kids like this one have no instruments. Let’s change his tears into smiles! Help us provide a book and music instrument for him. Creating a smile with music is the motto of Educational Arts Society. Just maybe. . . you will adopt it too!

Music Changes Emotions

How do you encourage your kid to practice with a smile instead of a scream? We have given violins and have seen smiles instead of tears.

 Music is a source of inspiration. How many people have you seen climb to the mountaintop of grace while listening to a song? The child you help today . . .could be the child who plays for you tomorrow!

Parental Involvement in Music

Parents of underprivileged children see the value music plays in the lives of their children also. Values are not defined by bank accounts! They are “sound” building blocks to life. Music increases self-esteem, discipline, confidence and responsibility. When you make a contribution to a child . . . you make a contribution to society.

JESSE WAS OUR YOUNGEST SAXOPHONIST

Every child needs an opportunity.

No Tears . . . Just Smiles . . . We Can Change it.

Ending the Year with a Heart of Giving!

CEO Walter D. Parham Wishes You a Prosperous 2023!

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APPLICATION FOR FREE INSTRUMENTS

Application for FREE Instrument

Parents/Students applying for a FREE instrument should use the contact form below for the initial contact. Once we receive the information in the form, we will contact you for further information. Such information may include a driver’s license, home address (license and home address should match), cell phone, name of school, church or organization, (addresses) and phone number, name of instrument and teacher at the school.

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Response to Disgruntled Person Flyer

Create a Smile with Music

Disgruntled Person Flyer

Every business can find a disgruntled person flyer in his mailbox at some time if it remains in business for a while. Gripes, lies and complaints are a given. This article is a response to a disgruntled person’s flyer that landed in our mailbox. We are Educational Arts Society, a 501 c 3 nonprofit. Here is our response:

EDUCATIONAL ARTS SOCIETYPO Box 70894 – Rochester, MI 48307September 22, 2022

To: Unknown Person with Heart of Anger

From: Dr. Mamie Smith, COO

Re:  Letter of Disgruntled Individual

The purpose of this response is to correct a flyer “someone” is circulating about Educational Arts Society, CEO Walter D. Parham and myself.  Please find a copy of the flyer below. 

My first reaction when I saw the flyer was, this is a bitter person carrying around lots of anger.  Ignore it. . . but . . .we have all learned the last five, plus years that if a lie is not corrected, many people accept it as truth.  Secondly, if this person is speaking truth, why did he/she not attach his or her name to what is claimed as truth?  Then, perhaps the truth could be discovered in a court of law.  Defaming a person’s character in publicized written form is not a crime, but it is a “civil wrong.”  Civil lawsuits are filed too often in this country for such behavior.

Here is some information:

Prior to the pandemic, CEO Parham and I taught children at my studio in Detroit.  During the pandemic, I taught FREE vocal lessons online in my home.  CEO Parham taught several aspiring saxophonists at Duke Ellington Middle School during the last school term of 2022, in partnership with Carr Center.  Free instruments were given to five (5) children in December 2021. There is information on our website that speaks to this.   We “create a smile with music” when parents, children and teachers can “make it happen.”  Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. Parents have a lot “on their plates,” and have difficulty getting children to music classes. Many are one-parent homes. Working with schools, churches and grant-funded programs have proved more effective.

Aspiring Young Saxophonists @ Duke Ellington Middle School in Detroit

As most “clear-minded” people realize, many businesses and organizations are still recovering from Covid 19 and other viruses.  We are among them.  Most of our funding comes from events and donations.  Grant funding is something most small nonprofits are seeking to conquer.  We have been turned down many times, that is why we seek to partner with larger nonprofits. 

Let’s address the “business practices are very questionable and extremely inappropriate.”  The State of Michigan gets our Annual Report each year, the IRS gets a 990N annually, we give an Income Statement to the Board each year and keep it on file and I donate my time.  Our Bylaws allow CEO Parham to be paid a nominal fee which he has only received twice in 8 years.  Strangely, this person seems to know a lot of stuff to be anonymous . . . It is sad that the lies distort the truth.

All monies of Educational Arts Society are kept in a PayPal Account, Checking and Savings accounts.  I have not received “one red cent” of its money!  In fact, I donate funds to the nonprofit each year.  Our “personal projects” are funded “personally!

CEO Parham is one of Detroit’s “favorite sons,” and has worked with many successful musicians and people.  Iyanla Vanzant is one of them.  When we asked her to serve on the Board years ago, she graciously agreed and sent us a letter to confirm it.  The information on the website was approved by her.  We keep her on the site as an honorary member.

We have “scammed no one!”  Each person who makes a donation receives a Tax Letter for that year.  Our Tax ID Number is included in the letter so that they can check us out with the State of Michigan.  When a question reaches my ears, I respond quickly to resolve all issues. Our website is not a farce . . . each year we strive to fulfill our mission. 

Truth, honesty and integrity are high up on our list in our personal lives as well as the nonprofit!  Please visit us @ easzmusic.org. 

To Ms./Mr. Anonymous . . . stop carrying around that anger and bitterness!  You are only hurting yourself.  The lies will not prevent us from doing what God has given us to do.  We love you and wish you the best!

Musically yours,

CEO Walter (Duane) Parham

COO Dr. Mamie Smith

As long as you are here . . . take a look at our partnership aspirations. Join us if you believe we can work together.

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GETTING A FREE INSTRUMENT

Getting a Free Instrument for Your School Church or Organization

Introduction Video with a Cool Beat

Getting a Free Instrument for Your School, Church or Organization

Establishing a Partnership

Hello,

We are thrilled that you are on this page. Take a look at the suggestions and information. If you have questions, please contact us at admin@easzmusic.org.

Getting a free instrument for your organization means getting a new partner. How do you do that? By following the directions below:

  • Connect this page to a post or page on your website. Send us the link.
  • Urge members to become a donor to aid in purchasing music instruments.
  • Partnering with Educational Arts Society for a Musical Event/Fundraiser.
  • Exploring how CEO Parham’s documentary “The Unsung Musicians of the Motown Empire” can be used as a fundraiser at your location.
  • Creating an “Authors’ Day Fundraiser” with member and local author books.
  • Students/parents desiring an instrument should fill out an application here.

Make Your Donation

Your $5 Donation

Having an instrument means I can practice at home. Thank you.

$5.00

Your $10 Donation

Playing with a group of future musicians is fun. Maybe. . . this can become my profession.

$10.00

Your $25.00 Donation

Educational Arts Society has given away several violins. Do you want to help us give another one? You can give $50 by moving the arrow up to the number 2. Move the arrow to 3 and give $75. Move it to 4 and give $100. Thanks much!

$25.00

Send an Application

Ask for an application and get one here.

Hello,

I am CEO and Founder Walter Duane Parham. Thank you for visiting this website. It is our pleasure and desire to partner with you. Only partnerships receive FREE instruments for their organizations. I am eager to work with you on and at many levels as we discuss new ways to connect children with music.

As a musician, (Saxophonist Duane Parham) event/fundraisers are “high up on my list.” Partnerships may include both organizations sharing expenses and profits depending on location and level of participation.

Let us know if we can help.

Musically yours,

MAKING MUSIC FUN

DONATE

Giving a Kid a New Saxophone

Founder & CEO Walter Parham mentored six (6) students at Duke Ellington Middle School (Jan-Jun 2022) in Detroit. He developed a point-system that motivated students to improve skills in technique, knowledge of music, production and performance. The three (3) students with the highest number of points will receive a brand new, shiny saxophone. Help us deliver! Donate $19.00 monthly or a one-time donation of your choice. If you wish to give more that nineteen dollars, move the arrow up to a higher number. One (1) means nineteen dollars. Two (2) means $38. Three (3) means $57, Four (4) means you wish to give $76 and so on.

$19.00

Music is an art . . . it can be fun, but it is also work. Making music fun is not the foundation for developing a professional skill set. However, when that occurs, it’s the “icing on the cake!” The center of the cake must be technique, production and performance capabilities. That is exactly what CEO Walter Parham had in mind when he became the mentor for six (6) students at Duke Ellington Middle School in Detroit.

Create a Smile with Music
We Are Your Tomorrow . . .

Educational Arts Society Meets Life Remodeled

COMMUNITIES JOINING TOGETHER

CEO & FOUNDER CHRIS LAMBERT CEO & FOUNDER WALTER PARHAM

Two communities seek to join together and “create a smile with music.” CEO Walter Parham of Educational Arts Society presents a proposal to CEO Christopher Lambert of Life Remodeled to determine if the nonprofit’s subsidiary UMME Federation of Proteges will make its hub in one of Detroit’s success stories: LIFE REMODELED.

WHO IS LIFE REMODELED?

Educational Arts Society meets Life Remodeled and discovers a community engaged in overcoming life barriers by working together.

Life Remodeled is a nonprofit that combines financial resources and brain power to develop a community’s needs and relationships.

Its uniqueness lies in the ability to unite a community’s residents with investment decisions every step of the way. It does not enter a community asking, “Do you want us to come in with our money and develop a working community for you?” but says, “Let’s build a community that works for you and me.” And . . . they say, “The best place to start is building relationships–relationships that generate trust, respect and honor.”

WHAT IS THE UMME FEDERATION OF PROTEGES?

UMME Federation of Proteges

LIFE REMODELED says, “If you want to know our secret, join us!”

And. . . that is exactly what CEO Parham plans to do . . . join them. With a framework in hand, he and COO Dr. Mamie Smith met CEO Lambert and Innovation Society Director Brandi Haggins to map out a road map.

What is the UMME Federation of Proteges?

The UMME Federation of Proteges is an organization founded by CEO Parham that uses a military style format to combine the talents, skillsets and creativity of musicians and residents to integrate into a community and assist it in developing its determined musical needs, culture and vision.

Music integration and core values are at the core of what UMME seeks to accomplish. During the meeting, it was decided that the next step is for EAS to meet the Community Board of Directors. Stay tuned! In the meantime, view the video below that gives a glimpse of the UMME FEDERATION of PROTEGES.

Use the form to contact us for an application.

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OUR BRIGHTEST LIGHTS

“Children are our brightest lights,” is a phrase mankind has recognized since the existence of time. They gleam with innocence, radiate with curiosity and shine with acceptance. This article will look at three (3) bright stars who share the energy that makes them “sparkle.” Brian Reid, Kennedi Clark and Deraj Tigner “twinkle and beam” out their stories on a worldwide radio show called “Talk to the Author.” Nah-ah-ah, they are not authors yet, but give them a couple of years and they will be.

Three Bright Lights

Is School Fun?

Our three (3) young interviewees simply said “yes.” One is home-schooled and . . . he has a startling answer why he likes it! The other two (2) were slowed down by the pandemic but are now “back on track.” As I listened to these kids, I heard and saw our legacy. What they ingest today, will be regurgitated tomorrow. So, it is essential that we feed them “mental food” that can reshape the world.

Future Goal Setting

Guides to Goal Setting

Is it too early to lay the foundation that embraces children becoming “our brightest lights?” No! Goal setting is now! Then …comes action. Here are a few bullet points:

  • Seeds planted today the future will bloom.
  • Flowers of sweetness or fragrances of doom.
  • The legacies we share will live forever,
  • Bringing rays of light or stormy weather.

Goals Must Lead to Achievement

Unless that sparkle of action leads to achievement, goal setting has failed. Steps leading to achievement is a journey of progression.

Brian, Kennedi and Deraj have begun the journey. As they advance, “it takes a community!


Our Brightest Lights Continue to Shine

OUR LEGACY

By Dr. Mamie Smith

Children are our yesterday, today and tomorrow,

Our peace, faith, hope and sorrow,

What will we leave for them to match?

What words, actions for them to catch?

Clouds of darkness or shadows of love,

Twilight or sunshine that flows from above.

Seeds planted today the future will bloom,

Flowers of sweetness or fragrances of doom.

Think brothers and sisters before we fight,

Let’s work together with all our might.

The legacies we share will live forever,

Bringing rays of light or stormy weather.

Quiet the discourse, smother the flame,

Stop calling others out of their name.

I choose peace that speaks to power

In this stressful, declining hour.

The time is now to lay the foundation

For the next, promising generation.

Let’s not fail to heed the call,

 Get it right, once and for all.

JOIN THE “BRIGHTEST LIGHTS @ 5 PM ON MAY 1, 2022 ON EAMT – THE PLACE 2B!